Industry News

Washington, DC - U.S. construction industry leaders remained confident in August 2019, according to the Construction Confidence Index released in late October by Associated Builders and Contractors. While contractors were less upbeat regarding sales growth over the coming six months, confidence associated with profit margins and staffing increased from July to August.

Washington, DC – Architecture billings moderated in September but design activity shows signs of remaining sluggish at U.S. architecture firms, according to a new report from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Washington, DC – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) has released the October 2019 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 51.4, a decrease from the September index of 54.7.

Toronto, ON - Covertech Flexible Packaging, a leading manufacturer of reflective insulation, introduces the rFOIL Ultra White 2600 Series metal building insulation with a 10-year UV degradation warranty on material flaking and labor cost. Ultra White is designed to block 97 percent of radiant heat transfer, while preventing interior condensation.

Villa Rica, GA - Southern Aluminum Finishing Co., (SAF), has announced the availability of a new RainScreen Panel System. The SAF 4200 RainScreen is a Drained & Back-Ventilated ACM Panel system designed to eliminate the visual appearance of mechanical fasteners from the panel edges.

Portland, OR - With talk of recession looming, homeowners are re-evaluating home renovation projects that may make the most sense—and dollars—in an uncertain economy.

Minneapolis, MN – Sherwin-Williams unveiled a new architect-inspired color palette, Fluropon Architect Series, created by architects who attended the company’s “Color Mixology” event during the AIA Conference on Architecture 2019 in Las Vegas. The private event brought together hundreds of architects who helped to create 10 newly developed colors of Fluropon 70% PVDF architectural metal coatings.

Washington, DC - Construction input prices fell 0.6% in September and are down 1.7% year-over-year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released recently. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 0.7% for the month of September and are down 1.4% compared to the same time last year.

Lewisville, TX – Metl-Span has compiled its annual list of Projects of the Month and is featuring them in its 2020 calendar. Gracing the calendar's cover is the Project of the Year: 54 Middlesex office building renovation in Bedford, Mass. Metl-Span provided approximately 16,000 square feet of 3-inch CF Architectural insulated metal panels in 24-inch and 36-inch widths.

Arlington, VA - Construction employment increased by 7,000 jobs in September and by 156,000, or 2.1 percent, over the past 12 months, while the number of unemployed jobseekers with construction experience reached a record low for September, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) has released a new series of video vignettes highlighting careers in the metal building systems industry. These 12 videos range from 40 seconds to just under two minutes and are now available on MBMA’s YouTube channel.

Newton, MA - METALCON - the metal construction industry’s largest international event for metal construction products, technologies and solutions announces the retirement of Claire Kilcoyne, its vice president of tradeshows, after decades of dedicated service to the metal construction industry.

West Conshohocken, PA - The ASTM International roofing and waterproofing committee (D08) is sponsoring the Ninth Symposium on Roofing Research and Standards Development, December 8, 2019, at the Marriott Marquis Houston, in Houston, TX. The symposium will take place in conjunction with the December standards development meetings of the committee.

Pittsburgh, PA - PPG (NYSE: PPG) announces that it will unveil a new series of colors for its PPG Duranar™ MXL and PPG Durabrite™ metal coatings at METALCON 2019 in Pittsburgh, October 16-18, and also serve as one of the event’s two premier sponsors. The new Mineral Series color line offers architects new design options that blend seamlessly into urban landscapes with semi-transparent earth tones that subtly shimmer when exposed to sunlight.

Chicago, IL – The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has released a new standard for testing the performance of metal flashings used with metal roofing systems. The standard, ANSI/MCA FTS-1-2019, “Test Method for Wind Load Resistance of Flashings Used with Metal Roof Systems” is available now on MCA’s website.

Lutz, FL - Roof Hugger, LLC has published the fourth edition of its Metal-over-Metal Retrofit Solutions brochure, offering a wealth of product and design information. The new 12-page brochure will be formally unveiled at METALCON in Pittsburgh, October 16 - 18, in Roof Hugger's booth #846.

Woburn, MA – RHEINZINK America, Inc., has named Michael Dell’Olio as its regional sales manager serving architects, contractors and other building team members seeking architectural-grade zinc materials for their commercial and residential projects. Dell’Olio transitioned into the position under the guidance of his long-time colleague, Charles (Chuck) Bell, who recently retired from the role.

Lewisville, TX – Metl-Span’s proven ThermalSafe® insulated metal panel is now available with a Striated exterior profile, in addition to the already existing Ultra-Light Mesa and Santa Fe exterior options. “The demand for more fire-resistant options led us to produce ThermalSafe with a striated exterior profile,” says Jennifer Franz, Metl-Span product manager. “Striations offer an aesthetic customers are familiar with and asking for.”

Pittsburgh, PA – United States Steel Corporation announced on October 1 a joint venture partnership agreement under which it has taken the first step towards acquiring Big River Steel through the purchase of a 49.9% ownership interest at a purchase price of approximately $700 million in cash, with a call option to acquire the remaining 50.1% within the next four years.

Elkhart Lake, WI - Plyco Corporation - supplier of products to the post frame, metal building and commercial construction industries - has named Tom Granitz as its new national sales & marketing director.